Not all alcoholic beverages are alike or are sold to consumers in the same way.  For example, Alcopops, which are sweet, fruity, high-alcohol content beverages, are often referred to as a "starter drink" for teenagers. 

A few quick facts:

• 76.7% of 8th grade drinkers reported consuming alcopops in the last 30 days. ¹
• One-third of teen girls report having tried alcopops. ²
• Advertising expenditures on cable television increased 91% from 2001 to 2006. ³
• Youth saw 33% more magazine ads for alcopops per capita than adults age 21 and over in 2004. ⁴

Here are some links to further information:

• Cute packaging, fun flavors make ‘alcopops’ attractive to minors (from the AAP News)
• Joe Camel in a Bottle: Diageo, the Smirnoff Brand, and the Transformation of the Youth Alcohol Market (from the American Journal of Public Health)